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There was range of disadvantages in the informal roadside metalwork fabrication apprenticeship practice in North Western Nigeria that includes the lack of appropriate Technical skills to better serve the society. The purpose of this research was to identify those Technical skills desirable for the informal roadside metalwork fabrication apprenticeship practice in Nigeria. To this effect an investigation was carried out through survey research, using questionnaire instrument and interview as entailed by methodological triangulation. The survey research was conducted using140 population of master craft persons from sampled workshops in seven states of North West geo-political zone of Nigeria. Interview of 10 participants was made, who were randomly selected from, Industry-based trainers, lecturers and instructors within the seven states in North Western Nigeria. The interviews were conducted to have a balance result. Open coding was made, followed by Axial coding, Selective coding was lastly made, results were interpreted as they complemented the descriptive results which entailed the methodological Triangulation method. To validate the results obtained from methodological triangulation, eleven Delphi panel of experts were involved. Binary analysis and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (Kendall’s Wa ) were used to measure and determine the consensus of the experts on the Technical skills items. Positive results were obtained because, the level of consensus between the participants was strong, the Technical Skills needed items score was 0.621. The result also indicated an inter-judge reliability. Suggestions were made for the improvement of the sector, as the appropriate and valid Technical skills needed were outlined.

There have been concerns about the performance of Nigerian school teachers’ in delivering occupational related courses. However, there are currently limited empirical data on this phenomenon – in particular with respect to the teaching of engineering drawing – to justify further actions from educational managers and policy makers. The aim of this study was to assess teachers’ performance in teaching engineering drawing using students’ perception as indicator of teachers’ performance. The study utilized a cross-sectional research design method with the target population of technical education students drawn from four (4) Federal Colleges of education (Technical) in Northern Nigeria. Stratified proportionate sampling technique was used to arrive at the study sample of 253 technical education students. A specifically designed instrument, the Students’ Perceptions of Teachers’ Performance Scales (SPTPS) was used to gather data on the three performance dimensions namely contextual, task and adaptability performance. The exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis methods were conducted to validate the performance constructs. The instrument has a high reliability of 0.90 based on the Cronbach Alpha method. The result of the analysis using estimation method indicates that students perceive their teachers’ performance to be at a slightly above average level (M= 3.51 ± 0.05 at the 95% confidence level). The teachers’ task performance, in particular, is found to be the least developed among the three dimension of performance while their adaptability performance is the highest while still being less than excellent. The data support the conclusion that there are aspects of teachers’ performance in teaching engineering drawing that is less than excellent and in need of further enhancements.

Malaysia is a country that is a rich source of agricultural waste material. Three different crops were studied here, including pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaf, corn (Zea mays) stalk, and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). These crops are characterized as agricultural waste materials in Malaysia and have a high potential to be used as alternative fibers for the paper making industry. The objective of this work was to analyze the chemical composition of pineapple leaf, corn stalk, and Napier grass and to investigate the fiber morphology of these crops. The chemical components analyzed include the following: cellulose (Kurshner-Hoffner method), holocellulose (chlorination method), hemicellulose (chlorination method), ash content (TAPPI method T211-om-93), lignin content (TAPPI method T222-om-98), and soluble sodium hydroxide (TAPPI method T203-om-98). All handsheets morphologies were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated each crop has the potential for use as a fiber in paper making. SEM images indicated a condensed composition of the fiber structure. The observed chemical composition and morphology of these three crops indicate their suitability for use as fiber sources for the paper industry.

Problem-based learning (PBL) is one of the student centered approaches and has been considered by a number of higher educational institutions in many parts of the world as a method of delivery. This paper presents a creative thinking approach for implementing Problem-based Learning in Mechanics of Structure within a Malaysian Polytechnics environment. In the learning process, students learn how to analyze the problem given among the students and sharing classroom knowledge into practice. Further, through this course-s emphasis on problem-based learning, students acquire creative thinking skills and professional skills as they tackle complex, interdisciplinary and real-situation problems. Once the creative ideas are generated, there are useful additional techniques for tender ideas that will grow into a productive concept or solution. The combination of creative skills and technical abilities will enable the students to be ready to "hit-the-ground-running" and produce in industry when they graduate., {"references":["Soden, R., Teaching Problem Solving in Vocational Education. London:\nRoutledge (1994).","Claire Major (2001). Assessing The Effectiveness Of Problem Based\nLearning in Higher Education: Lessons From The Literature, vol. 5(1).","Yong, L.S.M. (1986). A study a creativity and its correlates among form\n4 pupils. Tesis Ph.D yang tidak diterbitkan, Universiti Malaya.","Yong, L.S.M. (1993). Study in Creativity. Incotrends (M) Sdn Bhd.\nKuala Lumpur.","Steinemann, A., (2003). Implementing Sustainable Development\nThrough Problem-Based Learning:Pedagogy and Practice. Journal of\nProfessional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice. Oct.","Chin, C. (1997). Promoting Higher Cognitive Learning in Science\nthrough a Problem Solving Approach REACT, Issue No.1.","De Bono, E. (1993). Serious Creativity: Using the Power of Interal\nThinking To Create New Ideas. New York: Harper Collins.","Torrance, E.P. (1966). Thinking Creatively with Words: Verbal Booklet\nA. Benseville, IL: Scholastic Testing Service, Inc.","Barrows, H. (2003). Response To \"The Problem with Problem Based\nMedical Education: Promises Not Kept\" by R.H Gkew. Biochemistry\nand Molecular Biology Education. Vol. 31, no.4, pp. 255-256.\n[10] Barrows, H.S. (1996). Problem-Based Learning In Medicine And\nBeyond:Abrief Overview. In Lory and Practice (Vol.68, Pp3-12. San\nFrancisco:Jossey-Bass.\n[11] Donaldson, C.A (2004). Information Literacy and the McKinsey Model:\nLiteracy to Graduate Business Students. Library Philosophy and Practice\nVol. 6, no.2.\n[12] Infor Resources System Sdn. Bhd. (2001). Creativity and Creative\nProblem Solving. IRSSB Selangor."]}